Down South America Way

It wasn’t the pre-season signing of Sergio Aguerro, the Argentinian striker that moved from Atletico Madrid to Manchester City that startled me, but the acquisition of Denis Stracqualursi (pronounced STRA-QUA-LARSI) by Everton from Argentinian mid-table side Tigre. The deal is a one year loan, I guess a, “look at you, look at me” type of scenario, however the interesting thing is that Everton scouted out the former Gimnasia La Plata striker and are prepared to launch into a signing where no previous European experience is on the CV.

This signing is very important to putting South American football back onto Premier League transfer market map. Usually, as with most South American footballers, they are generally groomed in Italy or Spain before announcing themselves into English Football, a la the aforementioned Aguerro. Everton’s signing is seen by many as a gamble, but to those that have seen Stracqualursi, they will know that the Toffee’s have a talent. At 23, Stracqualursi is not too young to be overawed by the experience of the Premier League and has several seasons behind him.

A gamble that Manchester United chose to take was with Uruguyan, Diego Forlan, who had no European experience and looked like a little boy lost at times in the big setting of Old Trafford. However, after moving to Spain his career blossomed; He’s now one of the most potent strikers in Europe. Forlan’s showing in the recent Copa America win for his home country is testament not only to the growing reputation of South American teams, but also indicates that the standard of the individual league structures are improving.

River Plate’s relegation to the 2^nd tier of Argentinian Football sent shockwaves not only through the battered streets of Buenos Aires, but also around the world. Pictures were shown of riots and pitched battles throughout the nation’s capital, where one of the country’s leading clubs was to end its Premier Liga existence of at least one season. The AFA decided to set up an average performance relegation into its structure, which was designed primarily to avoid the big clubs having a bad season and being relegated. However, what they didn’t foresee, was a big club having two poor seasons and thus being relegated on average, despite also having a second chance playoff match against Belgrano, which they inevitably lost.

Liverpool decided to make Luis Suarez feel more at home by buying compatriot, Sebastián Coates from Nacional, the leading club in domestic football in Uruguay. Coates made his debut for the national team in the Copa America 2011 held in Argentina. Much was heralded of the new Argentinian revolution, they got off to an auspicious start though with a draw to vast underdogs Bolivia, the Argentines drew again with Columbia and then managed to beat Costa Rica 3-0, despite the Costa Ricans fielding an U23 squad.

The Uruguay squad defeated the host nation in the quarter finals on penalties, Peru in the semis before setting up a final versus Paraguay. Coates started the final and with Suarez, came away with a winner’s medal, a side to look out for at World Cup 2014 in Brazil.

Since the impressive form of the South Americans as emerging talent, for every Luis Suarez and Juninho there is a Juan Sebastian Veron, Hernan Crespo and to avoid a Argentinian argument, I give you Kleberson of Brazil.

 Spireite supporters of course know all about the emergence of Juninho, the little Brazilian was part of a magical midfield trio, that still failed to stop Boro’ being relegated in 1997. Chesterfield fans had the good fortune to view  Juninho three times: in the two FA Cup semi-final games and, two years later, in the  League Cup fixture.

 Who could also forget the crazy antics of Faustino Asprilla, the Columbian forward who had an indecisive spell at Newcastle United; at times simply brilliant but occasionally found his mind elsewhere. However, his forehead was at the right angle for Keith Curle’s face at Maine Road.

 One player who has made his mark in the English game is Gustavo Poyet. The Uruguyan possessed a fine midfielder’s talent in finding the back of the net for Chelsea and Tottenham and is now cutting his managerial teeth at Brighton. Poyet has embraced English culture and is fast emerging as a coach of the highest quality.

The talent in South America is on the rebound. However, the noisy sound-bites are not from the traditional “big guns” of Brazil and Argentina but from their very own noisy neighbours.  

This article first appeared in the Chesterfield FC official programme on Saturday 7th January 2012.